76
Metascore
17 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90TheWrapKristen LopezTheWrapKristen LopezThelma is a totally pure delight that gives June Squibb a much-deserved leading role. Her and Roundtree are fabulously paired and Margolin’s script is breezy and sharp in equal measure. You’ll want to see this with your best friend, your parents, and, yes, your grandma.
- 83The PlaylistGregory EllwoodThe PlaylistGregory EllwoodMargolin’s directorial debut is often super entertaining with just enough style and patience to avoid the trappings of a broad, studio endeavor. It also has a ton to say about senior autonomy, aging, ageism (two very different things), and the bonds between family members, young and old.
- 83Entertainment WeeklyDevan CogganEntertainment WeeklyDevan CogganNot every gag lands, but Thelma is the rare spoof that’s both laugh-out-loud funny and disarmingly sweet.
- 80Screen DailyFionnuala HalliganScreen DailyFionnuala HalliganMaking his debut, writer-director Josh Margolin combines acuity and playfulness in a funny action-drama whose spirit animal is Mission: Impossible.
- 80SlashfilmBen PearsonSlashfilmBen PearsonThelma's plight is handled with respect, and by putting us in her perspective, Margolin allows us to empathize and see the world through her eyes.
- 75Paste MagazineJacob OllerPaste MagazineJacob OllerLike its absentminded hero, the film can sometimes get sidetracked right when things are getting good, wandering down schmaltzy or twee narrative paths. But when it lets Thelma (and Squibb) do her thing, the comedy is perfectly cute and a stellar showcase for what an actor’s late career can offer.
- 75The Film StageJake Kring-SchreifelsThe Film StageJake Kring-SchreifelsA loveable, low-stakes joyride.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe film reflects on issues of aging and autonomy with a mostly light touch, its protagonist making a strong case for the enduring spirit of elderly folks too often infantilized by both society and their loved ones.
- 67IndieWireAlison ForemanIndieWireAlison ForemanWriter/director Josh Margolin squeezes surprisingly funny freshness from the musty themes of aging, death, and lost autonomy in his poignantly written Thelma.
- 60VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeThelma may bill itself as an unconventional action movie, but it’s more of a sitcom, really.